Serena Williams began her quest for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title against familiar foe Kristie Ahn at Roland-Garros on Monday, in her first match on clay this season.
As we know, even the best who have played the game struggle with confidence including three-time French Open champion Williams, the American eventually came out on top in a marathon first set before easing to a 7-6 (2), 6-0 win over her compatriot.
Williams’ level sharply rose in the second set against her fellow American. “The biggest difference was just confidence,” she says. “I just need to play with more confidence, like I’m Serena.
“So that was it. I just started playing like that. And I love the clay and I started playing like it, opening the court and moving and sliding. I do think her level dropped a little bit in the beginning of the (second) set and I took advantage of that.”
Watch the match highlights below
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Williams also admits she has been constantly rehabilitating her body, starting at her coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy near Nice, France.
“I’m doing so much for it [the body],” says Williams, who turned 39 over the weekend. “I did so much for it at Patrick’s academy. So one of the reasons I came into press a little bit earlier than normal, because I need to get back and start the protocol all over again. So just kind of just rehab that, laser, ice, just a lot, a lot of stuff on it.”
She faces another stern test from a familiar opponent in the next round, Tsvetana Pironkova, as she continues her chase for Margaret Court’s Grand Slam record. The comeback Bulgarian — a mum, too — stretched Williams to three sets in an absorbing quarter-final in New York.
“She’s playing well, but I am too,” says Williams. “I’m ready to play her. She’ll be ready to play me. It will be a long match, she will get a lot of balls back. I’ll be ready.”
Svitolina and Muguruza also made it to the next round
No.3 seed Elina Svitolina advanced in straight sets, whilst Garbine Muguruza endured a three-hour marathon before finally outlasting her opponent to secure qualification.
Both are key contenders and are fully aware there is simply no room for complacency and must adapt to the ever-increasing chasing pack, which seems to be going from strength to strength.
For two-time major winner Muguruza who endured a gruelling three-hour tussle with world No.83 Tamara Zidansek, the Spaniard has been there and done that.
As for world No.5 Svitolina, champion in Strasbourg two days ago, the Ukrainian hopes that illustrating a positive persona on court, no matter the score, no matter the form can help her mentally to build the foundations to launch a major bid.
“Definitely it’s not natural. I have to work very hard to get where I am mentally. Every match, every tournament is a battle against myself first,” admits he 26-year-old, overcoming a spirited effort from Russian Varvara Gracheva 7-6(2), 6-4 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen to set up a second-round against Mexican qualifier Renata Zarazua.
“It’s so important for me to keep the focus and my mind in the right place.”
The 11th-seeded Muguruza will play Kristyna Pliskova in the second round.
Serena is just an amazing woman. All round. Love her. At this point, doesn’t matter if she’s able to tie the record. she’s a legend either way.